Mark Sanford says he believes in "a God of second chances," and now the former South Carolina governor has taken the first step toward reviving a political career that was derailed by an extramarital affair.

Sanford advanced in Tuesday night's primary for the coastal District 1 congressional seat left vacant by now-Senator Tim Scott. Gov. Nikki Haley appointed Scott to fill the senate seat vacated when former Sen. Jim DeMint stepped down last year.

Sanford took 37 percent of the Republican vote. He needed more than 50 percent to clinch the nomination, so he will face a runoff against Curtis Bostic, and Larry Grooms on April 2.

Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of political satirist Stephen Colbert, always dreamed of a career in politics, and now she has a chance to realize that dream.

Colbert Busch easily won the Democratic primary to earn a spot on the May 7 general election ballot.

Colbert Busch would appear to face an uphill battle against the eventual Republican nominee in the conservative-leaning district. Mitt Romney carried the district by 18 percentage points in the presidential election last year.

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Fifteen other Republicans were running in the primary, including Teddy Turner, the son of media mogul Ted Turner.

Tuesday was Sanford's first political race since disappearing while governor in 2009 and then returning to admit an affair with an Argentine woman. They are now engaged.